PS 3521 
.fl86 M3 
1915 
Copy 1 




TSDENISON &C COMPANY 

PUBLISHERS CHICAGO 



DENISON'S ACTING PLAYS 

Partial List of Successful and Popular Plays. Large Catalogue Free. 
Price 15c each. Postpaid; Unless Different Price is Given 



DRAMAS, COMEDIES, 
ENTERTAINMENTS, Etc. 

M. F. 

Aaron Boggs, Freshman, 3 

acts, 2^ hrs (25c) 8 8 

After the Game, 2 acts, 1 Y^ 

hrs (25c) 1 9 

All a Mistake, 3 acts, 2 hrs. 

{2Sc^ 4 4 

American Hustler, 4 acts, 2^^ 

hrs (25c) 7 4 

Arabian Nights, 3 acts, 2 hrs. 4 5 
As a Woman Thinketh, 3 acts, 

2^ hrs (25c) 9 7 

At the End of the Rainbow, 3 

acts, 2^4 hrs (25c) 6 14 

Bank Cashier, 4 acts, 2 hrs. 

(25c) 8 4 

Black Heifer, 3 acts, 2 hrs. 

(25c) 9 3 

Brookdale Farm, 4 acts, 2^4 

hrs (25c) 7 3 

Brother Josiah, 3 acrs, 2 hrs. 

(25c) 7 4 

Burns Rebellion, 1 hr (25c) 8 5 

Busy Liar, 3 acts, 2^ hrs. 

(25c) 7 4 

College Town, 3 acts, 2^4 

hrs (25c) 9 8 

Corner Drug Store, 1 hr. 

(25c) 17 14 

Danger Signal, 2 acts, 2 hrs.. 7 4 
Daughter of the Desert, 4 

acts, 254 hrs (25c) 6 4 

Down in Dixie, 4 acts, 2 '4 

hrs {2Sc) 8 4 

Dream That Came True, 3 

acts, 254 hrs (25c) 6 13 

Editor-in-Chiei, 1 hr (25c) 10 

Enchanted Wood, 1 M b.(35c).Optnl. 
Everyyouth, 3 acts, 1 '4 hrs. 

(25c) 7 6 

Face at the Window, 3 acts, 2 

hrs (25c) 4 4 

Fascinators, 40 min (25c) 13 

Fun on the Podunk Limited, 

IVz brs (2Sc) 9 14 

Heiress of Hoetown, 3 acts, 2 

hrs (25c) 8 4 

High School Freshman, 3 acts, 

2 hrs (25c) 12 

Honor of a Cowboy, 4 acts, 2i/. 

hrs. (25c) 13 4 

Indian Days, 1 hr (50c) 5 2 

In Plum Valley, 4 acts, 2 5^ 

hrs (25c) 6 4 

Iron Hand, 4 acts, 2 hrs.. (25c) 5 4 
Jayville Junction, H^ hrs. (25c) 14 17 
Kingdom of Heart's Content, 3 

acts, 254 hrs (25c) 6 12 

Lexmgton, 4 acts, 2J4 h. .(25c) 9 4 



Light Brigade, 40 min (25c) 10 

Little Buckshot, 3 acts, 214 hrs. 

(25c) 7 4 

Lodge of Kye Tyes, 1 hr.(25c)13 
Lonelyville Social (Tlub, 3 acts, 

154 hrs .(25c) 10 

Man from Borneo, 3 acts, 2 

hrs (25c) 5 2 

Man from Nevada, 4 acts, 21/^ 

hrs (25c) 9 5 

Mirandy's Minstrels. ... (25c) Optnl. 
New Woman, 3 acts, 1 hr.,,. 3 6 
Old Maid's Club, 154 hrs. (25c) 2 16 
Qld Oaken Bucket, 4 acts, 2 

hrs (^^5r> 8 6 

Old School at Hick'ry Holler, 

154 hrs (25c) 12 9 

On the Little Big Horn, 4 acts, 

21/2 hrs (25c) 10 4 

Out m the Streets, 3 acts, 1 hr. 6 4 
Prairie Rose, 4 acts, 254 hrs. 

(25c) 7 4 

Rustic Romeo, 2 acts, 254 

hrs (25c) 10 12 

School Ma'am, 4 acts, 1J4 hrs. 6 5 
Scrap of Paper, 3 acts, 2 hrs.. 6 6 
Soldier of Fortune, 5 acts, 2i^ h. 8 3 
Southern Cinderella, 3 acts, 2 

hrs (25c) 7 

Third Degree, 40 min (25c) 12 

Those Dreadful Twins, 3 acts, 

2 hrs (25c) 6 4 

Tony, The Convict, 5 acts, 254 

hrs (.\5c) 7 4 

Topp's Twins, 4 acts, 2 h.(25c) 6 4 
Town Marshal, 4 acts, 2 54 

hrs (25c) 6 3 

Trip to Storyland, 1 '4 hrs. (25c) 17 2i 
Uncle Josh, 4 acts, 254 hrs. (25c) 8 3 
Under Blue Skies, 4 acts, 2 

hrs (25c) 7 10 

Under the Laurels, 5 acts, 2 hrs. 6 4 
When the Circus Came to 

Town. 3 acts, 254 hrs. (25c) 5 3 
Women Who Did, 1 hr. . , (25c) 17 
Yankee Detective, 3 acts, 2 hrs. 8 3 

FARCES, COMEDIETAS, Etc. 

April Fools, 30 min 3 

Assessor, The, 10 min 3 2 

Baby Show at Pineville, 20 min. 19 

Bad Job, 30 min 3 2 

Betsy Baker, 45 min 2 2 

Billy's Chorus Girl, 25 min... 2 3 

Billy's Mishap, 20 min 2 3 

Borrowed Luncheon, 20 min., S 

Borrowing Trouble, 20 min..,.- 3 5 

Box and Cox, 35 min 2 1 

Case Against Casey, 40 min... 23 
Convention of Papas, .25 min., 7 

Country Justice, 15 min 8 

Cow that Kicked Chicago, 20 m. 3 2 



T. S. DENISON & COMPANY, Publisher$,154 W. Randolph St. , Chicago 



The Man Who Game Back 



A PLAYLET 



BY 

KATHARINE KAVANAUGH 

AUTHOR OF 

'Countess Kate," "A Minister Pro Tern," "The Queen of Diamonds, 

"When the JVorfn Turned," "IVho's a Coward?" 

"Under Blue Skies," Etc. 




CHICAGO 

T. S. DENISON & COMPANY 

Publishers 



THE MAN WHO CAME BACK 

CHARACTERS. AgC-. 

Thomas Chester TJie lyesertcr 

Lillian Chester His Daughter 

Mammy Jinnie The Old Nurse 



Place — TJiomas Chester's Home, Virginia. 



Time — The Year 1877, Siunmertime. 



Time of Playing — About Tzventy Minutes. 



Note. — With a few changes in the lines this sketch could 



be played in a plain interior. 



Notice. — Production of this play is free to amateurs, but the sole 
professional rights are reserved by the Publishers. 



COPYRIGHT, 1915, BY EBEN H. NORRIS. 

2 / - 



^Ws 



0470 



THE MAX WHO CAME BACK. 3 

STORY OF THE PLAY. 

The play is l.iid in the South, al^out fifteen years after 
the great civil strife. LiUian Chester, a girl of twenty, 
whose mother died some ten years previous, helieves her 
father was killed during the war while serving in the Con- 
federate army. Through great effort in economy and sav- 
ing she has just been able to erect in the cemetery a small 
monument to her father, bearing the inscription, *'To the 
memory of Thomas Chester, a soldier and a hero." How- 
ever, he is not dead, but returns and confides to the old 
colored mammy that he deserted, fell into bad company, 
finally landed in state's prison and has just been released. 
When Chester learns from his daughter the great reverence 
she has for her father's memory and the pride she has in 
thinking that he was a "soldier and a hero," he decides 
not to deprive her of the cherished thought. Without mak- 
ing his identity known, he proceeds upon his way, and as 
a parting good-bye to his daughter promises to step into the 
cemetery, view the marble slab and read the inscription 
thereon, which signifies so much to her. 



CHARACTERS AXD COSTUMES. 

Thomas Chester — Age about forty-five. Poorly dressed, 
the appearance of a tramp. Face made up pale to give eft'ect 
of prison palor. He shows in actions and voice that he is 
])roken in spirit. However, in the end, after his great de- 
cision to remain to his daughter as dead, he assumes more 
courage and appears resigned to his fate. 

EiLLiAN Chester — A sweet girl of about twenty, rather 
cheaply dressed but very neat and tidy in appearance. She 
should be of a thoughtful and cheerful nature. The ref- 
erences to her father should be spoken in tones of tender- 
ness rather than grief. 

MA:\rM^' Jinnie. Colored woman of about sixty years. 
She wears the conventional servant costume — a calico dress, 
white apron and red bandannas around neck and head. 
Shows her devotion to Lillian in look and manner. 



THE MAN WHO CAME BACK. 



PROPERTIES. 

A few small potted plants for outside the house; a 
clothesline on which are hung a few garments. Small empty 
basket for Lillian. 



STAGE SETTING. 





O^tp 


EXTERIOR BACKING 




h 




Fence 

Bench 
1 1 


Wood Wings 


ti 


Wood Wings 
Wood Wings 



STAGE DIRECTIONS. 



R. means right of stage ; C, center ; R. C, right center ; 
L., left ; 1 E., first entrance ; U . E., upper entrance ; R. 3 E., 
right entrance, up-stage, etc.; R.D., right door; E.D., left 
door, etc. ; D. F., door in flat or back of the stage ; up-stage, 
away from footlights, down-stage, near footlights ; 1 G., 
first groove, etc. The actor is supposed to be facing the 
audience. 



THE MAN WHO GAME BACK 



Scene: A plain exterior. A set house R., z^'ood wings 
L. An old fence ivith gate R. C. in rear. A fetv small potted 
plants outside the Jioiise. A rustic bench L. A clothesline 
on which are a feiv garments, arranged at back of stage. 

Enter Mammy Jinnie from house, looks about and then 
goes up C. to gate and looks off L. 

JixxiE. ]\Iissy Lillian! (Listens a moment.) Missy 
Lillian ! 

JiNNiE goes L. to ivJiere a short clothesline is hung and 
is taking down two or three garments when Lillian enters 
through gate from L. She carries a small empty basket. 

Lillian. Did you call me, Mammy Jinnie? 

JiNNiE. Cos I did, honey. Where you all been? 

Lillian. Fve been to the cemetery. 

JiNNiE. Miss Lillian, don't you know it ain't healthy to 
go to cimiteries? 

Lillian. Now, Mammy Jinnie, you know I don't go 
often. 

Jinnie. Often? Dey ain't no use talking, white folks 
like cimiteries better dan niggers. As fo' ma own self, I 
only wants to go once and dat'll be when I can't help mah- 
self. Dey has got to take dis old nigger feet first. 

Lillian. I only go once a week since my mother died 
and — 

Jinnie. Once in a lifetime is enough for dis nigger. 

Lillian. But now, Mammy Jinnie, that the tablet to 
my dear father's memory is erected, I expect to go every 
day to look at it and take flowers. 

Jinnie. W^hat good is dat goin' to do? 

Lillian. Don't you think it means something to me to 
read those words chisseled on that marble slab? 

Jinnie. I knows what it has done meaned to you all 
dese years dat you has worked your little fingers to de bone 

5 



6 THE MAN WHO CAME BACK. 

to get money to put up dat slab of marble to de memory 
of a man dat's been dead more dan fifteen years. What 
do he know about marble slabs nozvF 

Lillian. Oh, he iniist know how I've worked to put it 
there. I was too young to know him when he went away 
to war, but I've loved and revered his memory, and though 
we have been dreadfully poor, I've been a proud and happy 
girl to know that my father was a brave man who gave 
up his life for his country. 

JiNNiE. Huh! Men is all alike to me — brave or .un- 
brave. He gave up his life to his country. Well, maybe 
so ; but in all dese years his country ain't give his widow 
and baby de price of a pound of pork chops to put in dey 
moufs. 

Lillian. That was because we couldn't prove that he 
died in battle — a mere technicality. 

JiNNiE. Huh ! Sounds big, but you can't eat 'em. 

Lillian. What? 

JiNNiE. Take-no-calicoes. If he died den somebody 
ought to know somethin' 'bout it. Dat's all ! 

Lillian. Oh, Mammy, think of the hundreds who died 
and left no record. They just answered the call of duty 
and asked no reward. 

Jinnie. Yes, but fer de life of me, I can't see de sense 
in puttin' up a monument to a man what ain't dere ! 

Lillian. It's only a simple marble slab, "To the mem- 
ory of Thomas Chester, a soldier and a hero." Oh, Mammy, 
can't you understand what it means to me? Other girls 
have parents, brothers, sisters, sweethearts. I have only 
that one blessed thing — the memory of my father. It has 
kept me strong and brave when my heart was torn with 
despair. Many times I have said to myself, "You are the 
daughter of a soldier — be worthy of that honor!" 

Jinnie. Well, Honey, maybe you is right. As fur me, 
I kin see more honor in a square meal dan in all de monu- 
ments in de cimitery. When I think of de chicken stew 
and de ham an eggs dat's been sacrificed to dat slab of 
stone, it brings tears to mah eyes. 



THE AIAX WHO CAME BACK. 7 

Lillian. Well, that's all past. Now that it is paid for 
we shall have pork chops an sweet potatoes for supper. 

JiNNiK {smacking her lips). U-iim — Lordy! How I do 
lub de sound ob your voice when you say ''pork chops." 
Kin we afiford it, Honey? 

Lillian. Yes, I sold my biggest piece of work today, 
an embroidered tablecloth, to Mrs. Sanderson. What do 
you think I got for it? Twenty dollars! 

JiNNIE. No! 

Lillian. Yes! 

JiNNiE. You certainly is one wonderful chile! 

Lillian! And orders coming in for more. Mammy 
Jinnie, we'll soon have money in the bank. 

JiNNiE. Maybe so. In de meantime I'd like to have 
one of dose pork chops in mah stummick. 

Lillian (laughs). I'm off to the store now. (Runs to 
gate, pauses.) Let's see — pork chops and sweet potatoes, 
wasn't it? And what would you like for dessert? 

Jinnie. Go 'long, chile, stop your nonsense. Dessert ! 
Huh ! I don't eben know de meanin' ob de word. 

Lillian. Oh, I know. A nice, juicy blackberry pie. 

Jinnie. Now, Miss Lilly, you stop dat! I wouldn't 
know a blackberry pie if I met it face to face. Don't you 
mention nuthin' else, 'cause I'm so hungry dis minute I 
coud eat a stone rabbit, if it was cooked right. (Lillian 
goes off through gate to R. laughing. Jinnie goes up to 
gate, looks after her.) Dar she go! De sweetest bit of sun- 
shine de good Lord ever made. (Coming down toward 
house, shakes her head and touches her eyes with corner 
of apron.) If anything should happen to "de memory of 
Thomas Chester, a soldier and a hero," 'twould break my 
poor little girl's heart. (Goes slo7^'ly to liouse.) 

Enter Chester from L., approaches gate and speaks to 
Jinnie as she is about to enter house. He is a man of 
forty-five, with the appearance of a tramp, and showing 
■ traces of prison pallor. 

f Chester. Wait, please. 

Jinnie (tur)is at door). Who dat speak? 



8 THE MAN V/HO CAME BACK. 

Chester. Jinnie — you're Mammy Jinnie, ain't you? 

JiNNiE. How came you know fiie, Man? 

Chester. Don't you recognize me, Mammy? 

Jinnie. You stop dat callin' me ''Mammy"! You nuthin' 
but a tramp! 

Chester (entering gate). I must have changed indeed 
if you don't know me. I'm Thomas Chester. 

Jinnie (puts her hand to mouth to stifle a scream). 
Thomas Chester ! My Httle Missy's father ! You lie, man ; 
you is dead ! 

Chester. Is that what they think? Well, maybe it is 
just as well. (Appealingly.) My wife and baby? 

Jinnie. Your wife is dead ten years. Your little girl 
thinks you dead. 

Chester. Dead ? 

Jinnie. Why, man, you is so dead you has got a monu- 
ment! 

Chester. A monument, to me? 

Jinnie. "To de memory of Thomas Chester, a soldier 
and a hero." 

Chester. A soldier and a hero! 

Jinnie. Lookin' at you, it do sound kinda "fishy." 

Chester. So they believe I died in battle! 

Jinnie. Well, didn't yuh? 

Chester. And my daughter has treasured this memory 
of me? 

Jinnie. She's proud of yuh. Worked for years tryin' 
to save enough money for a slab in de cimitery. It was 
put up last week and every day she goes there with flowers 
and reads again de prescription : "A soldier and a hero," 

Chester (sinks to the bench, Jiis head in his hands). 
My God ! 

Jinnie. Is you really Mar's Thomas? Is you really 
now? 

Chester. I'm what's left of him. Not much like the 
original, I'm afraid. 

Jinnie. You certainly is not. De last time I seed Mar's 
Thomas he was wearin' a suit ob gray and he was marchin' 
away to fight de Yanks. De missus, wid little Missy in her 



THE MAN WTTO CAME BACK. 9 

arms, was standin' dere at de door waivin' him .c^ood-bye, 
and de little Missy, she — 

Chester (buries his head in his hands). Don't! For 
God's sake, don't! 

jiNNiE (crosses to him, speaks pityingly). I reckon you 
is "Mars Chester all right. But how come you didn't die? 
W'har you bin all dese years ? 

Chester (miserably). I didn't die because I was afraid 
of death. In my first fight I turned and ran. When I saw 
my comrades falling around me, my heart turned coward — 
a strange fear gripped me body and soul — I — I — deserted! 

Jinnie (draws azvay from him). Deserted! 

Chester. The brand of "coward" is written across my 
brow. Oh, if I had only had the courage to die in that 
fight. 

Jinnie. It is more than fifteen years since then. Whar 
you bin all dat time? 

Chester. I went from bad to worse. That cowardly 
act seemed to rob me of my manhood. I drifted as a 
tramp to New York. There I lived in the dens along the 
waterfront, more drunk than sober. One night, in a 
drunken brawl, I stabbed a man. They called it manslaugh- 
ter and gave me fourteen years. I'm just out. 

Jinnie (in horror). A convict! 

Chester. That's what they call me. 

Jinnie (sternly). Why did you come back? 

Chester. I had a craving for my own — no, not to ask 
for anything — just to see them and go on my way. I've 
grown old in prison — the way will not be long. 

Enter Lillian at gate, coming from R. Laughs happily. 

Lillian (gives basket to Jinnie). There you are, 
Mammy. Was I long? {Sees Chester on bench.) Oh, 
excuse me. sir. I didn't see you. 

Chester rises, cap in hand. His lips tremble, lie looks 
at her longingly, unable to speak. 

Jinnie (coming to his rescue). Honey, chile, this is — 
this is — 



10 THE MAN WHO CAME BACK. 

Chester. A stranger, miss, just stopped a moment to 
rest. 

Lillian. Oh, and so you shall. Do sit down again and 
let Mammy make you a glass of lemonade. The day is 
warm and you look tired. 

Chester. That's it. Miss, I'm — tired. (Sits down 
wearily.) 

Lillian. Mammy, the lemonade. And in the basket 
you'll find some of Mrs. Parker's home-made cake. It just 
came out of the oven and it's delicious. (Jinnie exits into 
house, looking back and shaking her head, very much 
zvorried. ) 

Chester. You are very good, miss, to a stranger. 

Lillian. I don't feel that you are a stranger. That's 
peculiar, isn't it? But I suppose it's because — though you 
may be a stranger to me — you may be some other girl's 
father, and you look as though you had seen trouble. I — 
I, too, have seen trouble. 

Chester (questioningly). Tell me of your own father — 

Lillian (proudly). My father was a soldier! 

Chester. And fell — ? 

Lillian. In the discharge of his duty. 

Chester (softly). "In the discharge of his duty." No 
man could do more. 

Lillian (proudly). ''No man could do more." I'm a 
proud girl to have had such a father. 

Chester. I hope you will always cherish that memory 
of him. If those who have gone watch over us — and I be- 
lieve they do — it will be sweet for him to know that he has 
a daughter like you. 

Enter Jinnie from honse zvitJi tray containing a glass 
of lemonade and a piece of cake. She crosses to Chester 
and offers it to him. She is nervous and constrained in 
her manner. 

Chester (taking glass and cake from tray). Thank you, 
Jinnie. 

Lillian (has crossed to R.). What! You know Mammy's 
name? 



THE MAN WHO CA^IE BACK. 11 

JiNNiE (quickly). Slioo, clu'le, T done tolc liim. 

Chester (recollecting himself). Yes, slie — she told me. 
(Eats and drinks.) 

Lillian (sits on doorstep). Perhaps yoivll he staying 
in the neighhorhood and will drop in to see us again some 
day? 

JiNNiE. De — de gent'man say he gwine far away from 
here — he don't belong in dese parts nohow. He got to go 
back whar he come from soon, Missy. Ain't dat de trufe, 
Marse? 

Chester. Yes, I must go. 

Lillian. Lm sorry. (Chester rises, returns tray to 
JiNNiE, zvJio crosses to house R. and remains there to 
curtain.) 

Chester. I'm more than sorry. 

Lillian (meeting Chester L. C). Forgive me, but you 
look sad. I hoped we could help you. (Holds out her 
hand.) 

Chester (takes her hand gratefully). You have helped 
me. You will never know what it has meant to me just 
to see you. Fll carry the memory of your sweet face with 
me to the end of my journey — and beyond! Good-bye! 
(Drops her hand, with cap in hand and shoulders bowed, 
turns up stage toward gate and ivipes azvay a tear with 
palm of his hand.) 

Lillian (remains down stage C. As he reaches gate she 
speaks). As you pass the little cemetery on your right, will 
vou stop a moment and look at the stone bearing the name 
of Thomas Chester? He was my father. 

Chester (his voice trembles). Yes — Lll stop. (Regain- 
ing self control and straightening up proudly.) 

Lillian. And don't forget to read the inscription : "A 
soldier and a hero." 

Chester (bravely but with breaking voice). ''A soldier 
and a hero." Fll remember. (Exits slowly to L., head up 
and looking straight ahead. Lillian remains C. looking 
after Jiini. Jinnie stands motionless at door of house.) 

Curtain 



The Dream that Came True 

By LINDSEY BARBEE. 

Price, 25 Cents 

Comedy drama in 3 acts; 6 males, 13 females. Time. 214 hours. 
Scenes: 3 interiors. Characters: Gordon Clay, foreman of the 
works. Charles Norton, the wealthy owner. Jack Brown, a cub 
reporter. Bobbie Byrnes, averse to college women. Billy Best, cap- 
tain of the 'varsity team. Lord Algernon, straight from England. 
Nan Worthington, one of the people. Margaret, loyal and true. 
Mrs. Jenkins, a boarding housekeeper. Angelina, her small daugh- 
ter. Louisa, one of the boarders. Florabel, a poetess. Mehitabel 
Biddle, a suffragette. Emmy Lou, fond of fairy tales. Mrs. Al- 
laire, the chaperone. Delphine, a college graduate. Peggy, a 
Browning fiend. Doris, an athletic girl. Nora, a maid. 

SYNOPSIS. 

Act I. — The impending- strike. "It ain't so much the man that 
makes woman foolish, it's the lack of him." "Being a lady Miss 
Margaret is being just like you. "If ever the time comes when 
you need me, I shall stand the test." 

Act II. — "The strike's on." Gordon tells of his love for an- 
other. Norton refuses to make terms. Gordon plays his last trump. 
Margaret bids Nan prove that love is sacrifice. "I am to struggle 
on — alone." 

Act III. — "It's good-bye Gordon." "You're a dear, sweet little 
English Lord but I want to be under the stars and stripes." Nan 
has her revenge. "The factory girl can be generous." The dream 
comes true. 

Under Blue Skies 

By KATHARINE KAVANAUGH. 

Price, 25 Cents 

Comedy drama in 4 acts; 7 males. 10 females. Time, 2 hours. 
Scenes: 2 exteriors, 2 interiors. Characters: Bruce McCulloch, 
the man. Dick Warren, Edith's brother. David Joyce, Clare's 
father. Oscar Weber, a village swain. Old John, the gardner. 
Williams, a valet. Sleepy Heine. Clare, the girl. Edith, an heir- 
ess. Sara, the old housekeeper. Mrs. Weber, a troublemaker. 
Little Elsie and five neighboring women who have only a few lines. 

SYNOPSIS. 

Act I. — Mrs. Weber insists on the marriage between Oscar 
and Clare. "This has got to be settled one way or the other." 
Clare meets Miss Warren. Oscar finds the letter. "Clare Joyce 
is my affianced wife." "If you come near me I'll kill you!" 

Act II. — Scene I: Old John and the flowers. Miss Warren finds 
Clare and Bruce together. Jealousy. The blow. "I'll make you 
sorry for this!" Scene II: Going to chapel. The love letter. Miss 
Warren and Oscar come to an agreement. "You'll never be able to 
hold up your head again." Humiliation. 

Act III. — Bruce unhappy. "I was playing with fire and I got 
my fingers burnt." An unexpected visitor. "Our engagement is 
at an end." Bruce proposes. The midnight marriage. 

Act IV. — The next morning. Breakfast. "Clare is not here." 
Mrs. Weber's story. "Your prayers and tears come too late." 
Bruce interrupts. "Clare Joyce is my wife." Happiness. 

T. S. DENISON & COMPANY, Publishers 

154 W. Randolph Street, CHICAGO 



Parlor Matches 

By WALTER BEN HARE. 

Price, 25 Cents 

An engaging comedy of society, 2 acts; 4 males, 5 females. 
Time, l^/^ hours. Scene: 1 simple interior. Characters: Vance 
Trelford, a professional hero, wlio doesn't want to be engaged. 
Don Radey, his cousin, a serious young man, engaged, thank you. 
1 erdinand Poppleton, a frivolous young man, likewise engaged. 
Jorkes, the butler, who may or may not be engaged. Mrs. Seltoon, 
who believes in engagements. Margaret Seltoon, her elder daugh- 
ter, engaged to Mr. Radey. Suzanne Seltoon, her younger daughter, 
engaged to Mr. Poppleton. Gail Lawrence, her waid, engaging 
and eventually engaged. Abigail Mullen, A. B., her maid, tem- 
porarily engaged, as it were. 

SYNOPSIS. 

Act I. — A morning in June at Solitaire Villa, Dovecote. Mrs. 
Seltoon smooths out the course of true love. "Whoever heard 
of a grass widow playing a heroine in a love scene?" "Oh, it's 
one of th^ best things they do." Mrs. Seltoon seeking a man for 
her niece. "Wliat is his yearly income?" The butler's opinion 
of a woman A. B. "Near-sighted, men's shoes, short bediabbled 
skirts, last year's hat and a banner saying Votes for Women!" 
Tlie new maid who is a graduate from the Splinterville Normal. 
The moving picture hero. "Women mal\e me nervous. I always 
keep out of their way." Symptoms of hydrophobia. "I bark, liow- 
wow-wow!" "His father is in. oil and vinegar." "Is it a new^ kind 
<if a bath?" Gail announces her engagement to the moving pic- 
ture hero. "He's here in town!" "Fall. O walls, and crush me!" 

Act II. — A dinnei" party. Ferdy decides to enlist in the army. 
A reconciliation. Abigail and Adrian Lee of the movies. "Those 
eyes, that nose, it's him?" "I've seen you propose in white 
flannels, in feathers, in full evening clothes, in a sailor suit, 
and in the garbage of a monk, and every time you've won her in 
the end." Gail and her fiancee. That odious Mr. Trelford. Din- 
ner is served. Vance Trelford learns that he is engaged. "I ex- 
pected it all along." "Yes, I begin to think that I did it myself." 

Sewing for the Heathen 

By WALTER BEN HARE. 

Price, 15 Cents 

Entertainment for 9 ladies, either young or middle-aged. Time, 
40 minutes. Can be played on any stage or platform, or even in 
any room. Very refined. Suitable for churcli or any society. Char- 
acters: Mrs. Judd, the hostess. Mrs. Chester, the president. Mrs. 
R. B. Powers, the stranger. Grandma Gibbs, deaf but persistent. 
Miss Luella Huggins, so sentimental. Mrs. Strong, a suffragist. 
Mrs. Meeker, gentle and good. Mrs. Day, a bride. Meely, the 
hired girl. SYNOPSIS. 

An anxious hostess. Meely wants to serve winny-wurst sand- 
wiches and noodle soup. The mystery of the jardeniere. The 
President arrives before she is expected. "It was her hair; she 
hadn't got it all on yet." Red flannels for the Hottentots in the 
middle of Africa. A stranger in town, the rich Mrs. Powers. A 
trip down town. Grandma Gibbs and her ear-trumpet. Tlie rich 
Mrs. Powers is mistaken for the dressmaker. The meeting of tlie 
society. A little tiff. Tlie giddy Miss Huggins is late as usual. 
A present from tlie men. ".Sewing for the Heathen." 

T. S. DENISON & COMPANY, Publishers 

154 W. Randolph Street, CHICAGO 



Denison's Vaudeville Sketches 

"A laugh is worth a hufidred groans in any market.^* 
Price, 15 Cents Each, Postpaid 

BREAKFAST FOOD FOR TWO.— Vaudeville sketch, by Harry 
L. Newton: 1 male, 1 female. Time, 20 minutes. Scene: Simple 
interior. Seldom Sells, a drummer for bottled spring water and 
condensed milk, and Carrie Samples, a breakfast food demonstra- 
tor, meet in a small freight office during a snow blockade. Once 
they were friends, but strangers now; however, while appeasing 
their hunger with their samples a reconciliation is affected. This 
sketch is a decided novelty and one of the most choice morsels of 
humor ever served. 

THE CABMAN AND THE LADY.— Vaudeville sketch, adapted by 
William D. Emerson; 2 males, 1 female. Time, 30 minutes. Played 
a number of seasons with great success by "Emerson. Caffray and 
Emerson." It is a scream. 

A COLD FINISH.— Vaudeville sketch, by Harry L. ^^ewton; 2 
males, 1 female. Time, 15 minutes. Scene: An interior. A 
cheeky life insurance agent forces himself into the home of a 
wealthy lady. Her attempt to get rid of him is side splitting. It 
has an unexpected finish which is always a great hit in vaude- 
ville. Really a two-part sketch, as the iceman has only a few 
lines. 

THE COUNTERFEIT BILLS.— Vaudeville sketch, by Harry L. 
Newton; 1 male, 1 female. Time, 20 minutes. A long lost sailor 
returns and in explaining his absence to his wife, finds he has 
steered into rough weather. As a peace-offering he gives her a 
large "roll of bills" and she admits having a second husband 
named Bill; however both prove counterfeit. There is a dash of 
wit and a foam of humor in the Old Salt's tale of adventures 
that cannot fail to delight. 

DOINGS OF A DUDE. — ^Vaudeville sketch, by Harry L. Newton; 
2 males, 1 female. Time, 20 minutes. Scene: Simple interior. 
Maizy von Billion, of athletic tendencies, is expecting a boxing 
instructor and has procured Bloody Mike, a prize fighter, to "try 
him out." Percy Montmorency, her sister's ping pong teacher, is 
mistaken for the boxing instructor and has a "trying out" that 
is a surprise. A whirlwind of fun and action. 

FRESH TIMOTHY HAY.— Vaudeville sketch, by Harry L. New- 
ton; 2 males, 1 female. Time, 20 minutes. Scene: Simple rural 
exterior. By terms of a will, Rose Lark must marry Reed Bird or 
forfeit a legacy. Rose and Reed have never met and when he 
arrives Timothy Hay, a fresh farm hand, mistakes him for Pink 
Eye Pete, a notorious thief. Ludicrous lines and rapid action. 
Chance for songs and specialties if desired. 

"We presented 'Fresh Timothy Hay' with great success." — 
Frank S. Wildt, Lancaster, Pa. 

GLICKMAN, THE GLAZIER.— Vaudeville sketch, by Harry L. 
Newton and A. S. Hoffman; 1 male, 1 female. Time, 25 minutes. 
Scene: Simple interior. Charlotte Russe, an actress, is scored 
by a dramatic paper. With "blood in her eye" she seeks the 
critic at the office, finds no one in and smashes a window. Jacob 
Glickman, a Hebrew glazier, rushes in and is mistaken for the 
critic. Fun, jokes, gags and action follow with lightning rapidity. 
A great Jew part. 

"Under the team name of Herbert and Elliott we are making a 
big hit with 'Glickman, the Glazier.' Your 'stuff' is the best ever." 
— C. W. Herbert, Spokane, Wash. 

T. S. DENISON & COMPANY, 154 W. Randolph St.. Chicago 



Denison's Vaudeville Sketches 

"A laugh is worth a hundred groans in any market.'' 

Price, 15 Cents Each, Postpaid, 

THE GODDESS OF LOVE.— Vaudeville sketch, by Harry L. 
Newton; 1 male, 1 female. Time, 15 minutes. Scene: Simple ex- 
terior. Aphrodite, a Greek Goddess, is a statue in the park Ac- 
cording to tradition, a gold ring placed upon her finger will bring 
her to life. Knott Jones, a tramp, who had slept in the park 
all night, brings her to life. A rare combination of the beautiful 
and the best of comedy. Novel, easy to produce and a great hit. 

HER HERO.— Vaudeville sketch, by George Totten Smith; 1 male, 
1 female. Time, 20 minutes. To test her lover's courage, a young 
lady pretends she hears a burglar in an adjoining room arid in- 
sists that lie shall investigate. He meets with a surprise which 
is far from what the jesting maiden had anticipated. Rich com- 
edy and rapid action. 

"Used 'Her Hero' with great success for six successive weeks." 
— Herman Nelms, Nashville, Tenn. 

A HOME RUN.— Vaudeville sketch, by Harry W. Osborne; 
1 male, 1 female. Time, 15 minutes. A bit of baseball non- 
sense introduced into a novel situation. "Inshoots" of wit, 
"out-curves" of mirth and "drop-balls" of hilarity are put over 
the "plate" in rapid succession. 

HOT AIR. — ^Vaudeville sketch, by George Totten Smith; 2 
males, 1 female. Time, 25 minutes. Briggs and his chum after 
a night out. Brigg's wife after an explanation. She finds their 
lovely "fairy tale" simply "hot air" and they find themselves in 
"hot water." Their ingenuity in extricating themselves from 
the humid situation is most amusing. 

IS IT RAINING?— Vaudeville sketch, by Harry L. Newton 
and A. S. Hoffman; 1 male, 1 female. Time, 10 minutes. Otto 
Swimorebeer, a German, Susan Fairweather, a friend of his. This 
act runs riot w'ith fun, gags, absurdities and comical lines. 

"I have had expensive sketches, but your's beat them all." — 
Gust Muech, Milwaukee, Wis. 

A MISTAKEN M I SS.— Vaudeville sketch, by George Totten 
Smith; 1 male, 1 female. Time, 20 minutes. The maiden expects 
to meet a very sedate young man, which part he impersonates, 
although he is eiuite the opposite. He also makes up as an Irish- 
man. However, the mistake was not amiss for the mistaken 
miss, as he proves to be her willing ideal. Strong plot, plenty 
of "laughs" with opportunity for good acting. 

MR. AND MRS. FIDO. — ^\^audeville sketch, by Harry L. Newton; 
1 male, 1 female. Time, 20 minutes. Mrs. Fido's husband and 
her dog Bruno are sick. Johnson, a dog doctor, who is just over 
from Sw'eden, is mistaken for Mr. Fido's physician, and com- 
plications arise that create more disturbance than a mustard plas- 
ter on a small boy. A great Swede part. 

"We are now plaving 'Mr. and Mrs. Fido' to crowded houses. 
Big hit." — The Elliotts, Clay Center, Kan. 

ONE SWEETHEART FOR TWO.— Vaudeville sketch, by Harry 
L. Newton; 2 females. Time. 20 minutes. It is not recorded in 
the book of Time when one sweetheart was sufficient for two 
ambitious maidens. The dialogue and action in tliis sketch are as 
magnetic as the breeze from an electric fan. 

T. S. DENISON & COMPANY, 154 W. Randolph SX,, Chicago 



Denison's Yaudeville Sketches 

**A laugh is worth a hundred groatis in any market.''' 
Price, 15 Cents Each, Postpaid 

O'TOOLE'S BATTLE OF ANTE -UP.— Vaudeville sketch, by 
Harry L. Newton; 2 males, 1 female. Time, 20 minutes. Gil- 
hooley wishes O'Toole to marry his daughter. To capture her 
heart they invent a story of how O'Toole saved her father's life 
In the battle of Ante- up. She puts to rout the scheming old 
rascals and marries Timmy, her true Irish boy. It is a fusillade 
of Irish wit and repartee. 

THE POOH BAH OF PEACETOWN.— Vaudeville sketch, by 
Harry L. Newton; 2 males, 2 females. Time, 35 minutes, Joshua 
is Justice of the Peace, Mayor, Insurance Agent, Attorney, Ex- 
press Agent and Postmaster of a small village. Contains a quaint 
sermon on the "divorce question." It is a decided novelty, with 
an atmosphere of humor that will warm and delight the coldest 
audience. 

THE TIME TABLE.— Vaudevihe sketch, by George Totten 
Smith; 1 male, 1 female. Time, 20 minutes. Mr. and Mrs. Jangle 
have missed the train. The naturalness of their ill-tempered 
cross-fire will make one feel that he has intruded upon the pri- 
vacy of a family jar and that he should suppress his mirth in fear 
of being noticed and accused of eavesdropping. 

THE TRAMP AND THE ACTRESS.— Vaudeville sketch, by 
Charles Ulrich; 1 male, 1 female. Time, 20 minutes. An actress, 
home on a vacation, is surprised by a tramp who attempts to 
rob the house. She simulates madness and thwarts his object. 
A dramatic incident abounding with comedv. 

WIVES WANTED IN SQUASHVILLE.— Vaudeville sketch, by 
O. E. Young; 3 males. Time, 30 minutes. Arthur Alger, a city^ 
chap out hunting, kills Benjamin Butterby's ox. To escape the 
infuriated rustic, he runs into Solomon Simple's house and hastily 
dons woman's dress. In this absurd disguise he finally escapes 
from the two love-sick old rubes, Solomon and Benjamin, who 
are the typical stage "b'gosh farmers." Mr. Young's plays are 
all full of ginger and go. 

Who's a Coward 

By KATHARINE KAVANAUGH. 

Price, 25 Cents. 

Comedy; 2 males, 1 female. Time, 20 minutes. A young wife 
accuses her husband of being a coward and to prove her point 
arranges with a friend to play burglar and break into their home. 
The husband, to vindicate himself, makes a similar arrangement 
with one of his chums. A real thief appears, and both thinking 
him to be their friend disguised, aid him in escaping with their 
valuables. Dippy Hogan, the crook, is a scream and will rob any 
audience of its gloom. 

Countess Kate 

By KATHARINE KAVANAUGH. 

Price, 25 Cents. 

A playlet; 3 males, 1 female. Time, 25 minutes. Two college 
chaps assist Countess Kate, a noted jewel thief, to escape from 
the police. She convinces tliem that the detective, who has her 
cornered, is her husband who has suddenly become insane, and 
after she gets away they are convinced that they have been two 
genuine "boobs." This beautiful and clever lady "Raflfles" has an 
irresistible charm. Dramatic, humorous and lively. Played a suc- 
cessful season in vaudeville. 

T. S. DENISON & COMPAWY. 154 W. Randolph SU, Chicago 



DENISON'S ACTING PLAYS 

Price 15 Cents Kach, Postpaid, Unless Different Price Is Given 



M. F. 

Documentary Evidence, 25 min. 1 1 

Dude in a Cyclone, 20 min.... 4 2 

Family Strike, 20 min 3 3 

First-Class Hotel, 20 min.... 4 

For Love and Honor, 20 min.. 2 1 

Fudge and a Uurglar, 15 min.. 5 
Fun in a Photograph Gallery, 

30 min 6 10 

Great Doughnut Corporation, 

30 min 3 5 

Great Medical Dispensary, 30 m. 6 
(ircat Pumpkin Case, 30 min.. 12 

Hans \'on Smash, 30 min.... 4 3 

Happy Pair, 25 min 1 1 

Fni Not Mesilf at All, 25 min. 3 2 
Initiating a Granger, 25 min.. 8 

Irish Linen Peddler, 40 min... 3 3 

Is the Editor In? 20 min... 4 2 

Kansas Immigrants, 20 min... 5 1 

Men Not Wanted, 30 min.... 8 

Mike Donovan's Courtship, 15 m. 1 3 

Mother Goose's Goslings, 30 m. 7 9 

Mrs. "Carver's Fancy Ikill, 40 m. 4 3 
Mrs. Stubbins' Book Ageii<-. ^0 

min. 3 2 

IMv Lord in Livery, 1 hr.,.. ^ 3 

Mv Neighbor's Wife, 45 min.. 3 3 

Mv Turn Next. 4 5 min 4 3 

My Wife's Relations. 1 hr 4 6 

Not a Man in the House, 40 m. 5 

Obstinate Family, 40 min 3 3 

Only Cold Tea, 20 min 3 3 

Outwitting the Colonel, 25 min. 3 2 

Pair of Lunatics, 20 min 1 1 

Patsy O'Wang, 35 min 4 3 

Pat, the Apothecary, 35 min.. 6 2 

Persecuted Dutchman, 30 min. 6 3 

Regular Fix, 35 min 6 4 

Rough Diamond, 40 min 4 3 

Second Childhood, 15 min.... 2 2 

Smith, the Aviator, 40 min... 2 3 

Taking Father's Place, 30 min. 5 3 

Taming a Tiger, 30 min 3 

That Rascal Pat, 30 min 3 2 

Those Red F,nvelopes, 25 min. 4 4 
Too Much of a Good Thing, 45 

min 3 6 

Treasure from Egypt, 45 min. 4 1 

Turn Him Out, 35 min 3 2 

Two Aunts and a Photo, 20 m. 4 

Two ]?onnycastles, 45 min.... 3 3 
Two Gentlemen in a Fix, 15 m. 2 

Two Ghosts in White. 20 min . . S 

Two of a Kind. 40 min 2 3 

Uncle Dick's Mistake. 20 min.. 3 2 

Wanted a Correspondent, 45 m. 4 4 

W' anted a Hero. 20 min I 1 

Which Will He Marry :^ 20 min. 2 8 

Who Is Who? 40 min . . 3 2 

Wide Enough for Two. 45 min. 5 2 

Wrong Babv. 25 min 8 

Yankee Peddler, 1 hr 7 3 



VAUDEVILLE SKETCHES, IMON- 
OLOGUES, ETHIOPIAN PLAYS. 

u. r. 
Ax'in' Her Father, 25 min.... 2 3 
Booster Club of Blackville, 25 m.lO 
Breakfast Food for Two, 20 m. 1 1 

Cold Finish, 15 min 2 1 

Coon Creek Courtshi]), 15 min. 1 1 
Coming Cham])ion, 20 min.... 2 
Coontown Thirteen Club, 25 m.l4 

Counterfeit Bills, 20 min 1 1 

Doings of a Dude, 20 min.... 2 1 

Dutch Cocktail, 20 min 2 

Five Minutes from Yell Col- 
lege, 15 min 2 

For Reform, 20 min 4 

Fresh Timothy Hay, 20 min.. 2 1 
Glickman, the Glazier, 25 min. 1 1 
Handy Andy (Negro), 12 min. 2 

Her Hero, 20 min 1 1 

Hey, Rube ! 15 min 1 

Home Run, 15 min 1 1 

Hot Air, 25 min 2 1 

Jumbo Jum, 30 min 4 3 

Little Red School House, 20 m. 4 

Love and Lather, 35 min 3 2 

Marriage and After, 10 min.. 1 
Mischievous Nigger, 25 min.. 4 2 

Mistaken Miss. 20 min 1 1 

Mr. and Mrs. Fido, 20 min.... 1 1 
I\Ir. Badger's Uppers, 40 min. 4 2 
One Sweetheart for Two, 20 m. 2 
Oshkosh ^'ext Week, 20 min.. 4 

Oyster Stew, 10 min 2 

Pete Yansen's Gurl's Moder, 10 

min 1 

Pickles for Two, 15 min 2 

Pooh Bah of Pcacetown, 35 min. 2 2 
Prof. Black's Funnygraph, 15 m. 6 

Recruiting Office. 15 min 2 

Sham Doctor, 10 min 4 2 

Si and I. 15 min 1 

Special Sale, 15 min 2 

Stage Struck Darky, 10 min.. 2 1 
Sunny Son of Italy, 15 rain.. 1 

Time Table. 20 min 1 1 

Tramp and the -Xctress. 20 min. 1 1 
Troubled by Ghosts, 10 min... 4 
Troubles of Rozinski, 15_min.. 1 
Two Jay Detectives, 15~min.. 3 
ITmbrella Mender, 15 min.... 2 
Uncle Bill at the Vaudeville. 

1 5 min 1 

Uncle Teff. 25 min 5 2 

Who Gits de Reward? 30 min. 5 1 



A great number of 

Standard and Amateur Plays 

not found here are listed in 

Denison's Catalogue 



T.S.DENISON & COMPANY, Publishers,154W.RandolphSt., Chicago 



POPULAR ENTERTAIN 

Price, Illustrated Paper Cover 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 




N this Series 
are found 
books touching 
every feature 
in the enter- 
tainment field. 
Finely made, 
good paper, 
clear print and 
each book has 
an attractive 
ndividual cov- 
J er design. 



DIALOGUES 

All Sorts of Dialogues. 

Selected, fine for older pupils. 
Catchy Comic Dialogues. 

Very clever; for young people. 
Children's Comic Dialogues. 

From six to eleven years of age. 
Dialogues for District Schoofsr 

For country schools. 
Dialogues from Dickens. 

Thirteen selections. 
The Friday Afternoon Dialogues. 

Over 50,0()0 copies sold. 
From Tots to Teens. 

Dialogues and recitations. 
Humorous Homespun Dialogues. 

For older ones. 
Little People's Plays. 

From 7 to 13 years of age. 
Lively Dialogues. 

For all ages; mostly humorous. 
Merry Little Dialogues. 

Thirty-eight original -selections. 
When the Lessons are Over. 

Dialogues, drills, plays. 
Wide Awake Dialogues. 

Brand new, original, successful. 

SPEAKERS, MONOLOGUES 

Choice Pieces for Little People. 

A child's speaker. 
The Comic Entertainer. 

Recitations, monologues, dialogues. 
Dialect Readings. 

Irish, Dutch, Negro. Scotch, etc. 
The Favorite Speaker. 

Choice prose and poetry. 
The Friday Afternoon Speaker. 

For p .pils of all ages. 
H'jrrorous Monologues. 

Particularly for ladies. 
IVlonologues for Young Folks. 

Clever, humorous, original. 
Morclogues Grave and Gay. 

Dramatic and humorous. 
The Patriotic Speaker. 

Ma'^ter thoughts of master minds. 




""'% 015 939 503 5' 

Pomes ov ine i-c»,kv... 

Wit, humor, satire, funny poems. 
Scrap- Book Recitations. 

Choice collections, pathetic, hu- 
morous, descriptive, prose, 
poetry. 14 Nos., per No. 25c, 

DRILLS 

The Best Drill Book. 

Very popular drills and marches. 
The Favorite" Book of Drills. 

Drills that sparkle with originality." 
Little Plays With Drills. 

For children from 6 to 11 years." 
The Surprise Drill Book. 

Fresh, novel, drills and marches. 

SPECIALTIES 

The Boys' Entertainer. 

Monologues, dialogues, drills. 
Children's Party Book. 

Invitations, decorations, games. 
The D.ays We Celebrate. 

Entertainments for all the holidays. 
Good Things for Christmas. 

Recitations, dialogues, drills. 
Good Things for Thanksgiving. 

A gem of a book. 
Good Things for Washington 

and Lincoln Birthdays. 
Little Folks' Budget. 

Easy pieces to speak, songs. 
One Hundred Entertainments. 

New parlor diversions, socials. 
Patriotic Celebrations. 

Great variety of material. 
Pranks and Pastimes. 

Parlor games for children. 
Private Theatricals. 

IIow to put on plays. 
Shadow Pictures, Pantomimes, 

Charades, and how to prepare. 
Tableaux and Scenic Readings. 

New and novel; for all ages. 
Twinkling Fingers and Sway- 
ing Figures. For little tots. 
Yuletide Entertainments. 

A choice Christmas collection. 

MINSTRELS, JOKES 

Black American Joker. 

Minstrels' and end men's gags. 
A Bundle of Burnt Cork Comedy. 

Monologues, stump speeches, etc. 
Laughland, via the Ha-Ha Route. 

A merry trip for fun tourists. 
Negro Minstrels. 

All about the business. 
The New Jolly Jester. 

Funny stories, jokes, gags, etc. 

Large Illustrated Catalogue Free 



T,S. DENISON & COMPANY, Publishers, 154 W. Randolph St. , Chicago 



